Cowboy western wear are often designed to serve a function or provide a need. Western way of life is often related to ranch work, animal raising and caring and being out in the sun most of the day. Nevertheless, cowboy western wear became modified because they had to suit up for other occasions aside from the regular daily crunch. The formal types of cowboy western wear became identified with country singers and entertainers or oil magnates.

The more casual type of western garments became the favorites of country rock stars either in avant garde fashion where sequins or bold and colorful embroideries of eagles and American Flags are emblazoned at the back. At some point in time, cowboy western wear became an inspiration for the grunge style where everything can be a mismatch of informal and formal, or laces and leathers or simply pocked, frayed and dirty.     

Most cowboy western wear designs were conceptualized with the wearer riding on horseback. Since much of the work or travel often made use of horse transport, most articles for cowboy western wear are all-in-one resources to make ranch work safer, lighter or manageable

Cowboy Western Wear- The Cowboy Hat
Take the cowboy hat for example. Stetson invented the felt material out of beaver and rabbit furs which he discovered had a twining and bonding effect if treated with boiling water and combined well by kneading. Seeing that it had a capacity to resist water, Stetson came up with a hat designed with wider brims to protect the wearer from the heat and glare of the sun.  Made from the water-resistant felt material he invented, the hat was also usable as an improvised water bearer and protection from rain. The inside of the crown area was useful to temporarily place an important document or dollar bills while traveling on horseback.

Cowboy Western Wear- The Cowboy Belt Buckle
In cowboy western wear, a big belt buckle was important to a horseback rider. This was instrumental in protecting a cowboy’s life. The saddle had a pointed portion known as the saddle horn and was used to support the steering ropes in managing or navigating a horse.

This was important to ensure that the cowboy will not lose hold of the steering rope even if he applies less force or pressure in holding the rope as a way of avoiding blisters or rope burns. However, these saddle horns have been known to tear some guts apart in case cattle handling became rough or during stampedes. A cowboy may survive a fall but will find it fatal if he lands on his saddle with the saddle horn impaled to his abdomen. Thus, buckle belts became bigger, to provide protection.

Cowboy Western Wear- The Cowboy Boots
Have you ever wondered why cowboy boots have pointed tips? Not only that, there are different degrees of sharpness to choose from whether pointed, medium or round. The pointed tips of a cowboy boots make it easier for the rider to slide and un-slide his shoes in and out of the stirrups.

It is said that you can tell a real cowboy with the way he wears his jeans and boots. Real cowboys they say are used to wearing their jeans a bit longer to the point of folding up around the ankle. They are not comfortable with the idea of tucking the end of their jeans inside their boots. For one, it does not allow for easy leg movement in mounting and dismounting a horse. In cowboy western wear, the pants’ long measure ensures that their leg pants won’t hitch up.

Now that we know more about cowboy western wear, we should perhaps take note of this since they can tell if you’re just one who’s dressing up to be fashionable. In fact Japan made western wear items are being faulted for lacking authenticity in cowboy western wear articles.

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